Sravanam

[Guest guest]

SRAVANAM

 

 

Of all the institutions that The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD)

runs, Sravanam is unique. Sravanam is an institute specially started for

the children who are hearing impaired. This is very special because it

takes children up to 5 years of age and trains them to speak, unlike

most instituted that train them in sign language.

 

Along with the child, the mother is provided free board and lodging

until the completion of the training. The institute was started with the

first batch of 6 children. Today it has a strength of 120 children. What

is amazing is that the student to teacher ratio. It has one teacher for

two students.

 

On 31st March, 2009, the institute moved to its new premises at the old

Maternity hospital complex, close to my residence at Tirupati. An entire

wing of the old hospital has been renovated into the Audiology Lab, with

the most modern of equipment for training. Sudarshan Homam (Havan) was

made as a part of inauguration of the new premises.

 

When the first batch of 'graduating' children spoke from the dais, every

eye in the audience was moist with tears. When the parents shared their

earlier alienated feeling and the current gratitude and amazement at the

development of their wards, the audience was moved.

 

The Chief Medical Officer of the TTD, Dr Sarada Ramanath and the of Balajyoti, the partners of this sound exercise must be

congratulated for the tremendous efforts.

 

I write this to specially ask the readers to refer children with hearing

impairment (Age up to 5 years) to the Sravanam, TTD, Tirupati. They will

be pleased to take as many, so the future generations can hear and chant

the Divya Nama of Govinda.

 

Today, the first batch of these 6 children are fit for admission into

the regular schools of the TTD.

 

Namaste,

S V Badri

Chennai